The viticulture is sustainable, certified High Environmental Value 3, and in the process of officially converting to organic growing.

Thanks to low yields of 35 hl/ha from vines of about 40 years of age and a management of the vegetative growth throughout the year, this wine boasts concentration and a lovely richness of fruit.

Appearance – Golden yellow hue with slight green tints.

Nose – Very intense and complex. In its early youth, the nose is fresh with aromas of citrus, green apple and yellow fruits, such as peach and mango. After two to three years of cellar-ageing, apricot jam and roasted pear aromas dominate the first nose which goes on to develop quince and slightly roasted notes.

Palate – When young, the wine is fresh and round with hints of citrus and almond. With age, the palate becomes very broad with a very long finish and is underpinned by aromas of quince, honey, coffee and dried apricot.

LOCATION

Château de Bord is a property with a 22-hectare vineyard and a medieval castle at its heart overlooking the vines.  It is located in Laudun-l’Ardoise in the Gard department, between Bagnols-sur-Cèze and Lirac.

TERROIR

The Château de Bord vineyards are located on a succession of hillside terraces where the sandy-clay soils are well-drained and perfectly south-facing.

The vineyards, dating back to Roman times, were owned by the Bishops of Uzès in the 11th century, then by the Count of Toulouse before being abandoned during the French Revolution. The property then passed from owner to owner and was bought by the Brotte family in 1991.

VINIFICATION & AGEING

Rigorous green work (disbudding, leaf thinning, green pruning) is carried out to reduce the yields and the harvest is carried out by hand. We vinify the early-ripening Grenache Blancs and the Viognier together to obtain a better balance. The later-ripening Grenaches are fermented with the Clairette. The wines are then aged in different types of containers: amphorae, French oak barrels and stainless steel vats. The wine is bottled in the March after 9 months of ageing and a light filtration.

SERVING

Serve at 12°C.

FOOD PAIRINGS

Enjoy the wine when young with a crayfish salad, a scallop tartar or a terrine of salmon. After ageing (3 to 5 years), it will work very well with grilled lobster, aioli or chicken in a creamy morel sauce. It can also be enjoyed with some dry goat’s cheese.

Name: Brotte Château de Bord white

Brand: Brotte – Domaines & Châteaux

Cuvée: Château de Bord white

Classification: AOC Côtes-du-Rhône Villages Laudun

Type: White

Region: Rhône Valley (France)

Grape Varieties: Viognier, Grenache and Clairette